Alabama Commitment Kristian Story Named an SI All-American

Versatile two-way athlete and Alabama football commitment Kristian Story is the first all-purpose selection for the 2019 SI All-America team.

Author:
John Garcia, Jr.
Publish date:
Dec 16, 2019

Kristian Story did it all at Lanett (Ala.) High School.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Alabama commitment is an SI All-American selection as an athlete. For good reason. He excelled at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back in high school.

Story, a three-year starter at quarterback, set Alabama prep records for career touchdowns (175) and total yards (13,219), surpassing marks set just last season by current Auburn quarterback Bo Nix. Story finished his high school career with 9,070 passing yards, 3,618 rushing yards and 530 yards receiving. He also had 28 career interceptions as defensive back, and was named to the Class 1A First Team All-State Defense in 2018.

He completed his prep career in sensational style. The four-star recruit rushed for two touchdowns, threw for two more—and, oh yeah, also recovered a fumble and had the game-clinching interception—in the Panthers’ 41-30 victory in the Alabama Class 1A state title game, capping a perfect season and securing the school’s second state championship in three years. Story then represented the state in the 2019 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

With the Crimson Tide, his position still is yet to be determined. He has the size and speed to play on either offense or defense. But Story’s father, Lanett head coach Clifford Story, says Tide coaches have told his son that want to give Kristian a shot to play quarterback first.

Why Story Is an All-American:

Scary production on both sides of the football, an athletic skill set on a 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame or a four-year varsity starter while being the son of a prep coach would each make a strong foundation for an FBS or Power 5 prospect. Story checks each of those boxes on his own.

Some evaluators are turned off by the jack of all trades, master of none-type players Story appears to be, but when factoring in varsity time in multiple sports and the lack of focus on any one position for most of his football life, it plays more as intrigue for us. We have seen Story dominate games on both sides of the football with instincts, physicality and developed skill both with the ball in his hands or in attacking it.

Beyond the quarterback talk around Story's position projection, most default to defense because of his great frame and high football IQ. We're on the opposite end there, too, thinking he has too much offensive skill to be slated as a defender early in his collegiate career. He has great feel, vision, burst and movement in the open field. While not a blazer, he's seldom slowed from behind at this point. Get him on the field as a gadget player, wide receiver, H-back or even running back and allow him to make plays. Period.

Position projection aside, Story is special enough to take on a top roster even without a clear group to break toward when his first college practice begins.

2019 SI All-American Offensive Team:

QB Bryce Young, Alabama (Why Young? Highlights)

RB Demarckus Bowman, Clemson (Why Bowman? Highlights)

RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (Why Gibbs? Highlights)

WR Julian Fleming, Ohio State (Why Fleming? Highlights)

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (Why Smith-Njigba? Highlights)

WR Malachi Wideman, FSU (Why Wideman? Highlights)

TE Arik Gilbert, LSU (Why Gilbert? Highlights)

OL Paris Johnson, Ohio State (Why Johnson? Highlights)

OL Tate Ratledge, UGA (Why Ratledge? Highlights)

OL Javion Cohen, Alabama (Why Cohen? Highlights)

OL Issiah Walker, Florida (Why Walker? Highlights)